The History of Spider-Man: 2004

For over 50 years, Spider-Man has been a sensational standout in the Marvel Universe and the web-slinger will swing onto the silver screen once again in Marvel Studios’ “Avengers: Infinity War” this May! In celebration of his memorable history, we present Spidey’s spectacular step-by-step story…

While Spider-Man battled a Shocker-like new bad guy, across town Aunt May chatted with her late husband at his grave in AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #501. Not long after, the webslinger foiled an assassination attempt in AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #502 with help from a tailor who serviced both heroes and villains alike.

Amazing Spider-Man (1999) #501

• Published: November 26, 2003
• Added to Marvel Unlimited: February 04, 2008
• Rating: T+
• Writer: Stan Lee
• Penciller: John Romita
• Cover Artist: Tony Harris

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In SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN #6, a more-powerful Dr. Octopus demanded that Spidey unmask, and later returned to his boyhood home in SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN #7 to hatch his full scheme. The Super Villain kidnapped the Palestinian ambassador in SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN #8 to use as leverage against his webby enemy, and in SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN #9, Spidey felt he’d no other option than to publicly unmask. When he did so in SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN #10, he revealed only another mask underneath the first one, and proceeded to fight Ock to a standstill.

When an other-dimensional woman named Morlen claimed a human host on Earth in AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #503, the Asgardian god of mischief Loki took notice and decided to help Spidey defeat her. After their victory over Morlen in AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #504, Loki gifted the wallcrawler with a favor the hero could call in at any time. Later, Spidey worked with the Human Torch to fight Hydro-Man in FANTASTIC FOUR #512 and FANTASTIC FOUR #513.

Fantastic Four (1998) #513

• Published: May 19, 2004
• Added to Marvel Unlimited: November 13, 2007
• Rating: T
• Writer: Mark Waid
• Penciller: Mike Wieringo, Paul Smith
• Cover Artist: Mike Wieringo

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Following a tense stand-off with a teen wielding a gun in AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #505, our hero helped his friend Dr. Curt Connors investigate the destruction of the scientist’s lab in SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN #11 and SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN #12, but when Connors’ alter ego the Lizard hit the scene in SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN #13, Spidey knuckled down and fought the scaly specimen back into the swamp.

The enigmatic Ezekiel returned in AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #506 to warn Spidey that the Gatekeeper would soon arrive to take back the spider-powers the hero accidentally received as a teenager. When the Gatekeeper revealed himself in AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #507, he informed the webslinger that Ezekiel himself coveted the spider-powers. Waylaid to a temple in South America by Ezekiel soon after, Spidey watched as his own blood transformed into a monster spider and Ezekiel sacrificed himself to save him from it in AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #508.

Amazing Spider-Man (1999) #508

• Published: May 19, 2004
• Added to Marvel Unlimited: April 07, 2008
• Rating: T+

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The webslinger joined with his fellow costumed crimebusters to confront Tony Stark over his strange behavior in AVENGERS #501, but when the alien Kree took advantage of the situation to attack New York, Spidey fought as hard as anyone to hold them off in AVENGERS #502. Afterward, he protected a handicapped man from Morbius the Living Vampire in SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN #14.

Captain America and Spider-Man both confronted a strange woman calling herself the Queen in SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN #15, but after she beat the webslinger into submission, she kissed him passionately. Spidey discovered she desired a mate in SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN #16, and he and Cap disagreed on the best course of action to squash her scheme. The Queen’s kiss began transforming Spidey into a true insect in SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN #17, and Cap revealed the Queen’s origins as another World War II-era Super-Soldier experiment in SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN #18.

Spectacular Spider-Man (2003) #15

• Published: June 09, 2004
• Added to Marvel Unlimited: September 01, 2008
• Rating: Marvel Psr
• Writer: Paul Jenkins
• Penciller: Michael Ryan
• Cover Artist: Steve Epting

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Now a man-spider monstrosity in SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN #19, Spidey fought back against the Queen’s desires while the super hero community searched for him. After the Queen’s defeat and the webslinger’s rescue in SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN #20, our hero learned he’d been reborn with new spider-like powers.

A letter from the late Gwen Stacy arrived at the Parker home in AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #509 with dire news of a secret the girl kept back from Peter while she lived. At Gwen’s gravesite, two shadowy figures attacked Peter and warned him of their wrath. In AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #510, Peter discovered the shocking identities of his attackers: Gabriel and Sarah, twins Gwen delivered while away in Europe, but now inexplicably adults.

Amazing Spider-Man (1999) #511

• Published: August 25, 2004
• Added to Marvel Unlimited: November 13, 2007
• Rating: T+
• Writer: Stan Lee
• Penciller: Mike Deodato
• Cover Artist: Mike Deodato

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What is Marvel Unlimited?

The twins’ belief in Peter as their deadbeat father stood revealed in AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #511, but in reality, Peter realized their father to be Norman Osborn, his sworn enemy, in AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #512. Hoping to save them from their rapid aging due to Osborn’s Goblin formula in his blood, Spidey drew them out in the open in AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #513, managing to defeat Sarah and capture her, but letting Gabriel slip away to learn the horrible truth of his parentage for himself…